Compact vehicle radiator

ABSTRACT

The fluid inlet and outlet tubings ( 5,6 ) that project beyond a front surface (F 1 ) of the radiator are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axes (A 1 , A 2 ) of the fluid boxes ( 1, 2 ), so as to reduce the bulk of the radiator in the longitudinal direction of the fluid boxes ( 1, 2 ).

The invention relates to a radiator for heating the passengercompartment of a vehicle comprising at least a first fluid box extendingfrom a first front surface to a second front surface of the radiatoralong a longitudinal axis contained in a median plane of the radiator, aheat exchanger bundle extending approximately along said median planestarting from the fluid box to exchange heat between a coolantcirculating in the fluid box and an airflow passing through the bundle,a fluid inlet or outlet tubing projecting from the end of the fluid boxlocated in said first front surface.

In this description, the terms “fluid box” and “tubing” refer tofunctional and non-structural units, with the fluid box denoting anelement in which the fluid communicates directly with the bundle, andtubing denoting a pipe that connects the fluid box to components of thefluid circuit other than the radiator. As will be seen later, at leastone region of the tubing may be fixed to the fluid box and may be formedby the same part or the same parts as the fluid box.

In the well-known radiator type described above, the presence of thetubing projecting from the end of the fluid box contributes to the bulkof the radiator in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof. Butthe space available for the radiator in the vehicle is usually verylimited, particularly near the lower part of the radiator when it isclose to the feet of the vehicle's occupants.

The presence of the tubing also makes it difficult to achieveairtightness between the front surface of the radiator and the box ofthe heating unit in which it is housed. This airtightness makes itnecessary to insert an expensive foam gasket that is difficult to putinto place and that could also be displaced as the radiator is beinginserted into the box, thus weakening the sealing function. Furthermore,this function is weakened as the gasket ages over time.

The purpose of this invention is to eliminate all or some of thedisadvantages mentioned above.

In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a radiator of thetype defined in the introduction, in which said tubing, starting fromthe first front surface, has a first part inclined from saidlongitudinal axis and/or eccentric from said median plane.

The inclination of said first part of the tubing makes it possible toreduce its bulk in the longitudinal direction of the fluid box, for agiven length of the tubing, for example as far as an elbow. Theeccentricity makes it possible for the first part of the tubing to beoffset towards a first side of said median plane so as to leave anapproximately planar surface on the other side of this median plane inthe first front surface to achieve airtight contact between the radiatorand the heating unit box, particularly with a removable cover belongingto this box, with or without insertion of a gasket.

Optional additional or replacement characteristics of the invention aredescribed below:

Said first part of the tubing is offset towards a first side of saidmedian plane so as to leave a planar surface in the first front surfaceon the other side of the median plane, to achieve airtight contactbetween the radiator and a heating unit box containing the radiator.

Said first part of the tubing is inclined with respect to said medianplane.

Said first part of the tubing is inclined towards said first side ofsaid median plane.

Said first part of the tubing is inclined with respect to the planecontaining the longitudinal axis of the fluid box and is orthogonal tosaid median plane.

Said first part of the tubing is connected by an elbow to a second partthat is located on the same side as the fluid box with respect to aboundary plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and the tangentto said elbow.

Said second part extends approximately perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis and is also tangential to said boundary plane.

Said second part separates from said boundary plane starting from saidelbow.

The following relations are respected:cos β×sin α≦(Xmax/L)cos β×cos α≦(Ymax/L)0≦α≦2π−n/2≦β≦π/2

where L is the length of the vector connecting the intersection pointsof the median axis of the first part of the tubing with the first frontsurface and with the median axis of the second part, α is the angleformed by said vector with said median plane, β is the angle formed bysaid vector with the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the fluidbox and is orthogonal to said median plane, Ymax is the maximum distanceavailable in the vehicle to house the tubing starting from the firstfront surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fluid boxand Xmax is the maximum distance available in the vehicle to house thetubing starting from the origin of said vector in the directionperpendicular to said median plane,

α and β are not both zero.

The fluid box and at least one segment of the tubing adjacent theretoare formed by the inseparable assembly of at least two parts.

The fluid box and said segment are formed by the assembly of two parts,each of which defines approximately half of the box and half of saidsegment.

The fluid box and said segment are formed by the assembly of two parts,one of which approximately defines a longitudinal wall of the box andthe other defines the rest of the box and said segment.

The fluid box and said segment are formed by the assembly of threeparts, two of which approximately define half of the box and the thirddefines said segment.

Said parts are based on aluminium.

A second fluid box extends along a longitudinal axis contained in saidmedian plane, with the heat exchanger bundle being inserted between thetwo fluid boxes, one of which is associated with a fluid inlet tubingand the other with a fluid outlet tubing, and the tubing associated withthe second fluid box is also as defined above.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a heating or airconditioning unit for the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprisinga radiator as defined above, wherein said box is approximately inairtight contact with an area of said first front surface which is cleardue to the fact that the first part of the tubing is inclined and/oreccentric.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are described inmore detail in the following description, with reference to the attacheddrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a radiator according to theinvention, partially showing the box of a heating or air conditioningunit in which it is housed.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view and FIG. 3 shows a front elevationview of the radiator in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show explanatory diagrams showing how the tubing angles ofinclination are calculated.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrammatic views showing the different possibilitiesfor assembly of fluid boxes and tubings in a radiator according to theinvention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a heating radiator according to the invention for aunit for heating or air conditioning the passenger compartment of amotor vehicle. The radiator shown comprises an upper fluid box 1 that inthe example extends along a horizontal longitudinal axis A1 from a firstfront surface F1 to a second front surface F2 of the radiator, both ofwhich are in the vertical direction, and a lower fluid box 2 extendingalong a longitudinal axis A2 parallel to the axis A1, and also fromsurface F1 to surface F2. A heat exchanger bundle 3 is placed betweenthe fluid boxes 1 and 2, and includes a row of tubes 4, each extendingvertically and aligned in the horizontal direction between surfaces F1and F2. The top and bottom ends of each tube 4 penetrate the fluid boxes1 and 2 respectively to enable a coolant to circulate from one to theother through the tubes. This coolant transfers heat to an airflowpassing through the bundle 3, between the tubes 4.

Two tubings 5 and 6, communicating with fluid boxes 1 and 2respectively, project from the front surface F1, with one of thesetubings being used for inlet of the coolant into the radiator and theother for discharge of the fluid from the radiator. Each of thesetubings comprises a first approximately straight part 5-1, 6-1 adjacentto the corresponding fluid box, and a second approximately straight part5-2, 6-2, connected to the first part through an elbow 5-3, 6-3.

According to the invention, the first parts 5-1, 6-1 of the tubings areinclined from the axes A1, A2, and are also eccentric from the medianplane P of the radiator containing the axes A1 and A2.

The diagrammatic representation in FIG. 5 gives a better understandingof these concepts of inclination and eccentricity. The end region of afluid box 1 can be seen in this figure, extending as far as the frontsurface F1 from which a tubing 5 projects comprising a first part 5-1and a second part 5-2 connected to each other by an elbow 5-3. Thelongitudinal axis A3 of the part 5-1 meets the front surface F1 at apoint O which, in the example, is offset laterally from the point ofintersection O1 of the longitudinal axis A1 of the box 1 with thesurface F1. Therefore, part of the tubing 5-1 is eccentric from thefluid box 1. Moreover, the axes A1 and A3 are not parallel, but there isan acute angle between them. Therefore, the part 5-1 is inclined fromaxis A1.

With reference once again to FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the partsof the tubings 5-1 and 6-1 are both inclined and eccentric towards theleft in FIG. 2, thus leaving a clear part of the width of the frontsurface F1 to the right of the plane P, so that a planar strip 10 canextend over the entire height of this surface, facilitating the creationof an airtight contact with the box of the heating unit as will be seenlater.

FIGS. 1 to 3 also show that the part of the tubing 5-1 is inclined fromthe plane P, but is parallel to plane P1 perpendicular to it andcontaining the axis A1. On the other hand, the first part 6-1 of thelower tubing 6 is inclined both from plane P and from plane P2perpendicular to plane P and containing the axis A2.

The second part 5-2 of the upper tubing 5 is oriented horizontally andis parallel to the front surface F1, while the second part 6-2 of thelower tubing 6 extends vertically. The distance D1, D2 over which eachtubing extends from surface F1 depends on the length of its first partand the radius of curvature of its elbow. The inclination of the firstparts of the tubings makes it possible to reduce this distance, equal tothe length of the first parts and the radius of curvature of the elbows,compared with what is possible in the prior art in which these firstparts are oriented along the A1 and A2 axes. Similarly, the inclinationof the first part 6-1 of the lower tubing 6 makes it possible to reducethe distance D3 by which it projects from surface F3 facing the left inFIG. 2, which is one of the main surfaces of the exchanger through whichthe airflow passes.

Tubings 5 and 6 are entirely included between the plane of surface F1and planes P3 and P4 respectively, perpendicular to axes A1 and A2 andlocated at distances D1 and D2 from this surface, with planes P3 and P4being tangential to the elbows 5-3, 6-3 and to parts 5-2, 6-2 which inthe example in FIGS. 1 to 3 extend parallel to the same planes.Alternatively, the parts 5-2, 6-2 are not necessarily parallel to planesP3 and P4 and can move towards the plane of the surface F1 as shown forthe tubing 5 in FIG. 5. In this case, the part 5-2 is no longertangential to plane P3 but is between plane P3 and the plane of thesurface F1.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the end region of a fluid box 1 of aradiator according to the invention, and FIG. 5 shows a top view of thesame region of the fluid box and the corresponding tubing 5. In FIG. 5,A3 and A4 denote the longitudinal axes of the parts 5-1 and 5-2 of thetubing that intersect at point A. L is the distance along axis A3,between point A and point O at the intersection between axis A3 and thefront surface F1 of the radiator. Ymax denotes the maximum allowablebulk for the tubing starting from the surface F1 in the direction Ywhich is the direction of axis A1. Xmax (FIG. 4) denotes the maximumbulk of the tubing starting from point O in the OX directionperpendicular to the plane P. Also in FIG. 4, B denotes the projectionof point A on the XOY plane and α and β denote the angles BOY and AOBrespectively.

The coordinates of point B in the OX, OY coordinate system are:L×cosβ×sin α and L×cos β×cos α.

Therefore, the following relations should be respected to ensure thatpoint A, and consequently point B, do not go outside the limits Xmax andYmax:cos β×sin α≦(Xmax/L)cos β×cos α≦(Ymax/L)0≦α≦2π−n/2≦β≦π/2

where α and β are not both zero.

Any value that makes it possible to respect these relations can beadopted for the angles α and β.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show different assemblies each composed of a fluid box anda tubing segment fixed to the fluid box, obtained by assembling foldedor stamped aluminium plate parts either by welding or brazing. Thissegment represents at least one initial region of the first part of thetubing, adjacent to the fluid box. These assembly types make it easy toincline and/or create the eccentricity according to the invention, andconsequently the first part of the tubing formed wholly or partly fromthe segment.

In FIG. 6, two parts 11 and 12 each define approximately half of thefluid box 1 and half of the segment 5-0 of the tubing. In FIG. 7, afirst part 13 approximately defines a longitudinal wall of the box 1,and the second part 14 defines the rest of the box and the segment 5-0of the tubing. Finally, in FIG. 8, each of the two parts 15 and 16approximately defines half of the box 11, and a third part 17approximately defines the segment 5-0 of the tubing. In each case,segment 5-0 is inclined from the joint plane of the two parts of thefluid box.

Apart from the radiator, FIG. 1 shows elements 21, 22, 23, adjacent tothe radiator, of the unit box which is not shown in more detail so thatthe radiator can be seen more clearly. In particular, the element 23belongs to a removable cover that closes up an opening 24 through whichthe radiator is assembled. These elements are provided with ribs 25, 26,27, 28 that come into contact with the radiator over its entireperiphery so that it is airtight between the upstream and downstreamsides of the radiator. The invention makes it easy to obtain this sealby means of the planar strip 10 (FIG. 2) that provides a seating for therib 28 fixed to the cover 23.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described, in which theradiator has two fluid boxes extending along parallel axes eachassociated with two tubings starting from the same front surface of theradiator. The following alternatives in particular are possible,possibly in combination:

a single fluid box;

two boxes with non-parallel axes;

a single tubing extending from a front surface of the radiator;

two tubings, each extending from one of the two front surfaces and eachassociated with a different box, or both associated with the same box.

1. Radiator for heating the passenger compartment of a vehiclecomprising at least a first fluid box (1) extending from a first frontsurface (F1) to a second front surface (F2) of the radiator along alongitudinal axis (A1) contained in a median plane (P) of the radiator,a heat exchanger bundle (3) extending approximately along said medianplane (P) starting from the fluid box to exchange heat between a coolantcirculating in the fluid box and an airflow passing through the bundle,a fluid inlet or outlet tubing (5) projecting from the end of the fluidbox located in said first front surface (F1), characterised in that,starting from the first front surface (F1), said tubing (5) has a firstpart (5-1) inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis (A1) and/oreccentric with respect to said median plane (P).
 2. Radiator accordingto claim 1, in which said first part (5-1) of the tubing is offsettowards a first side of said median plane (P) so as to leave a planarsurface (10) on the other side of this median plane in the first frontsurface (F1) to achieve airtight contact between the radiator and theheating unit box containing the radiator.
 3. Radiator according to anyone claims 1 and 2, in which said first part (5-1) of the tubing (5) isinclined with respect to said median plane.
 4. Radiator according toclaim 2, in which said first part of the tubing is inclined towards saidfirst side of said median plane (P).
 5. Radiator according to any one ofthe previous claims, in which said first part (6-1) of the tubing (6) isinclined with respect to the plane (P2) containing the longitudinal axis(A2) of the fluid box (2) and orthogonal to said median plane (P). 6.Radiator according to any one of the previous claims, in which saidfirst part (5-1) of the tubing (5) is connected by an elbow (5-3) to asecond part (5-2) located on the same side as the fluid box (1) withrespect to a boundary plane (P3) perpendicular to said longitudinal axisand tangential to said elbow (5-3).
 7. Radiator according to claim 6, inwhich said second part (5-2) extends approximately perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis (A1) and is also tangential to said boundary plane(P3).
 8. Radiator according to claim 6, in which said second part (5-2)separates from said boundary plane (P3) starting from said elbow. 9.Radiator according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the followingrelations are respected:cos β×sin α≦(Xmax/L)cos β×cos α≦(Ymax/L)0≦α≦2π−π/2≦β≦π/2 where L is the length of the vector connecting theintersection points (O, A) of the median axis (A3) of the first part(5-1) of the tubing (5) with the first front surface (F1) and with themedian axis (A4) of the second part (5-2), α is the angle formed by saidvector with said median plane (P), β is the angle formed by said vectorwith the plane (P1) containing the longitudinal axis (A1) of the fluidbox (1) and is orthogonal to said median plane (P), Ymax is the maximumavailable distance in the vehicle to house the tubing starting from thefirst front surface (F1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A1)of the fluid box (1), and Xmax is the maximum available distance in thevehicle to house the tubing starting from the origin (O) of said vectorin the direction perpendicular to said median plane (P), α and β are notboth zero.
 10. Radiator according to any one of the previous claims, inwhich the fluid box (1) and at least one segment of the tubing (5)adjacent to the fluid box are formed by the inseparable assembly of atleast two parts (11, 12).
 11. Radiator according to claim 10, in whichthe fluid box (1) and said segment are formed by the assembly of twoparts (11, 12), each of which defines approximately half of the box (1)and half of said segment.
 12. Radiator according to claim 10, in whichthe fluid box (1) and said segment are formed by the assembly of twoparts, one of which (13) approximately defines a longitudinal wall ofthe box (1) and the other (14) defines the rest of the box (1) and saidsegment.
 13. Radiator according to claim 10, in which the fluid box (1)and said segment are formed by the assembly of three parts, two of which(15, 16) approximately define half of the box (1) and the third (17)defines said segment.
 14. Radiator according to any one of claims 10 to13, in which said parts are based on aluminium.
 15. Radiator accordingto any one of the previous claims, in which a second fluid box (2) isprovided extending along a longitudinal axis (A2) contained in saidmedian plane (P), the heat exchanger bundle (3) being inserted betweenthe two fluid boxes, one associated with a fluid inlet tubing (5) andthe other with a fluid outlet tubing (6), the tubing associated with thesecond fluid box (2) also being as defined in one of the previousclaims.
 16. Heating or air conditioning unit for the passengercompartment of a vehicle comprising a radiator according to one of theprevious claims, housed in a box (21, 22, 23, 24), said box beingapproximately in airtight contact with an area (10) of said first frontsurface (F1) that is clear due to the fact that the first part (5-1) ofthe tubing (5) is inclined and/or eccentric.